Holder for a capless light bulb

ABSTRACT

A holder for a capless light bulb constructed so as to permit light from a capless light bulb held by the holder to emanate from both the bulbous portion and the pinched portion of the capless light bulb. Indicator apparatus incorporating such a holder is also described.

United States Patent 1151 3,648,044 Barnard et al. 51 Mar. 7, 19-72 541 HOLDER FOR A CAPLESS LIGHT BULB 2,843,845 7/1958 Vozza ..340I378 [72] lnvemors: Dominic Paul Edward Barnard; Brian L. 2,961,631 11/1960 Smith ..340/381 X Bishop both ofwimey England 2,998,597 8/1961 Edwards ..340/378 3,080,554 3/1963 Jacobel, Jr. et al.... .....340/378 1 Assignee= Smiths Industries Limited, o 3,210,876 10/1965 Towne ..40/130 gland 3,233,033 2/1966 M1111=11 ....339/59 L 22 Filed; Dec. 15 9 9 3,292,174 12/1966 Tom 8131. "340/381 3,508,257 4/1970 Grogan, Jr. ..340/381 [21] Appl. No.: 884,967

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Foreign Application Priority Data 1,480,168 4/1967 France ..240/8.l6

Dec. 13, 1968 Great Bntam ..59,407/68 Primary Examiner llouis JI capozi 1521 U.S.CL ..240/8.16 /130 116/129 539/59 340/381 George Vande Sande, Charles F. Steininger and Robert R. 51 Int. Cl ..Bq 3/04 Priddy Field 01 Search ..240/8.l4, 8.16, 8.18, 2, 2.1,

240/22, 23, 46.59, 41.55; 40/130 R, 130 D, 130 K, 1 1 ABSTRACT 130 D, 130 X; 116/129, 129 T; 339/59 L, 92; A holder for a ca pless light bulb constructed so as to permit 340/79 366 light from a capless light bulb held by the holder to emanate from both the bulbous portion and the pinched portion of the [56] References Cned capless light bulb. Indicator apparatus incorporating such a UNITED STATES PATENTS holder is also described. 2,703,398 3/1955 Harrington et a1 ..340/381 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures Patented March 7, 1972 3,648,044

2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTORS Q/ DOMINIC PAUL EDMUND BARNARD BRIAN LIONEL HUNT BISHOP ATTORNEYS Patented March 7, 1972 3,648,044

2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS DOMINIC PAUL EDMUND BARNARD BRIAN LIONEL HUNT BISHOP ATTORNEYS HOLDER FOR A CAPLESS LIGHT BULB This invention relates to holders for capless light bulbs and to apparatus incorporating at least one such holder.

A capless light bulb comprises an electric element and two supplyleads or wires surrounded by a sealed glass envelope that is formed with a bulbous portion spaced about the element and a pinched portion sealed about the supply leads, the supply leads projecting from the pinched portion and being bent back upon themselves, preferably one each side, of the external surface of the pinched portion to constitute the terminals of the capless light bulb.

According to one aspect of the invention there is provided a holder for a capless light bulb, comprising a body of electrically insulating material having two contact strips mounted therein so as to retain a capless light bulb and make electrical contact with the terminals of the capless light bulb, characterized in that said body is constructed so as to permit light from a capless light bulb held by the holder to emanate from both the bulbous portion of the capless light bulb and the pinched portion of the capless light bulb.

In one form of holder according to this invention, the body is a moulding of opaque plastics material and is provided with an aperture at one end that is intended to be adjacent the pinched portion, whereby in use light emanates from the pinched portion through the aperture and also from the bulbous portion projecting from the opposite end of the body.

In an alternative form of holder according to this invention, the body is a moulding of translucent plastics material closed at one end by a translucent wall adjacent which the pinched portion of the capless light bulb is intended to lie, whereby in use light emanates from the pinched portion through the translucent wall and also from the bulbous portion projecting from the opposite end of the body.

As used herein the word translucent is intended to additionally convey the meaning of the word transparent."

The said translucent wall may form part of a light transmission element adapted to guide or pipe the light emanating from the pinched portion to a desired region remote from the capless light bulb.

According to another aspect of this invention there is provided indicator apparatus incorporating at least one holder of said one form and for visually indicating to an observer a condition in equipment to which the indicator is connected.

By way of example, embodiments of this invention will now be described, reference being had to the accompanying drawings ofwhich:

FIG. 1 is a perspective sketch of indicator apparatus according to this invention for visually indicating to an observer (by means of warning light bulbs) a condition in equipment to which the indicator apparatus may be connected;

FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line II-II of FIG. 1 and shows a holder according to this invention in cross section;

FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the holder shown in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of an electrical connector; and

FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of another holder according to this invention and a capless light bulb.

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 2, the indicator is housed in a casing 10 formed of plastics material generally as a parallelepiped of rectangular cross section, the front wall 11 of the casing being separable from the remainder of the casing and comprising a window that is divided into upper and lower portions 12 and 13. The upper portion 12 is recessed so that part of the casing top wall extends forwardly thereof to constitute a shroud, is continuous, and extends almost the whole width of the front wall from casing side wall to casing side wall. The lower portion 13 is discontinuous, the discontinuations being provided by six apertures 14 each of which is covered externally by a strip 15 of blue or green colored translucent material. The upper and lower portions of the window are separated along their length by an intermediate wall 16 that projects inwardly of the casing towards the rear wall and that is generally parallel to the top and bottom walls of the casing.

A holder 17 for six capless light bulbs 20 is moulded of opaque plasticsmaterial for removable snap-fit attachment to the front wall 11 and is located internally of the casing between the intermediate and bottom walls 16 and 18 of the casing. Each capless light bulb 20 comprises an electric element and two supply wires surrounded by a sealed glass envelope that is formed with a bulbous portion 21 spaced about the element and a pinched portion 22 sealed about the supply wires, the supply wires projecting from the pinched portion and being bent back upon themselves, one each side, over the external surface of the pinched portion to constitute the terminals of that capless light bulb. The bulbous portions of some of the light bulbs are coated with a red colored translucent film and the bulbous portions of some others of the light bulbs are coated with yellow colored translucent film. Preferably the red and yellow colors are saturated red and saturated yellow (or at least asnear as possible to saturated red and saturated yellow). Six similar chambers, one for each capless light bulb, are provided through the holder 17 in aligned communication with the apertures 14. Each chamber (see also FIG. 3) is internally fitted with two similar resilient metallic contact strips 23 the rear ends 24 of which directly engage the terminals of a capless light bulb in the region of its pinched portion 22 so that the bulbous portion 21 projects from the rear (i.e., inner) end of the holder 17. The aperture 14 through the opposite end of the holder (i.e., through the casing front wall 11) is such that in use illumination from the light bulbs electric element may travel rearwardly of the light bulb (i.e., forwardly of the casing) through the pinched portion 22 of the glass envelope and outwardly of the holder 17 through its associated aperture 14 in said opposite end. The front ends 25 of the contact strips 23 (see FIG. 5) each have at least one open-ended elongate slot 40 therein to accommodate the central conductor of an insulated supply lead 26 transversely of the strip. Each pair of contact strips 23 thereby serve as electrical connectors for interconnecting the two terminals of a capless light bulb and the two insulated electrical supply leads for those terminals.

As best shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the six chambers of the holder 17 is of generally rectangular cross section with internal dimensions substantially equal to the dimensions of each aperture 14. The top wall 27 of each chamber has two holes 31, 33 therethrough in vertical alignment with two holes 32, 34 through the bottom wall 28 of that chamber. Channels 29 extending longitudinally of each chamber are provided in the chamber top and bottom walls at their intersection with the chamber sidewalls 30. Each sidewall is stepped intermediate its length to provide a shoulder 35 that faces the casing front wall 11. As best shown in FIG. 5, each contact strip 23 is shaped from a metal sheet stamping of generally E- shaped configuration, so that its two outer limbs 38 face one another. The limbs 38 adjacent their rear ends 24 are bowed inwardly towards one another and at their planar, platelike front ends 25 are each provided with an open-ended longitudinally directed elongate slot 40 defined by the parallel edges of jaws 37 (having suddenly diverging extremities) that form part of that limbs front end. The central limb 39 is provided intermediate its ends with a laterally bent-out tag 41.

During assembly, the holder 17 is placed on a jig such that six upstanding blocks of the jig enter into the front ends (i.e., those to be disposed nearest casing front wall 11) of the holders six chambers, i.e., the two pairs of holes 31, 32 and 33, 34 are each in horizontal alignment. For each chamber the end portion of one insulated supply lead 26 is inserted horizontally first through hole 32 and then on through hole 3 1, and the end portion of another insulated supply lead 26 is inserted horizontally first through hole 34 and then on through hole 33. Thus each end portion is supported in a generally horizontal attitude by the holders top and bottom walls 27, 28 and is temporarily supported by the uppermost faces of the jig blocks.

An electrical connector for each of the two supply leads 26 in each chamber (which connector is constituted by a contact strip 23) is inserted horizontally into'the chamber from the rear end thereof with the slotted front end portion 25 leading. The channels 29 receive the edges of central limb 39 and during insertion the chamber sidewall parallel to central limb 39 is deformed until the extremity of the resilient tag 41 passes the side wall shoulder 35 which thereafter inhibits removal of the connector. As the connector is inserted each pair ofjaws 37 of its leading front end portion 25 engage the insulated supply lead 26 and cause the latter to enter into the elongate slot 40, defined by that pair of jaws, the internal jaw edges simultaneously causing the insulation to be removed in the plane of the platelike front end part of each limb 38 so that the internal jaw edges resiliently engage the sides of the central conductor of the otherwise insulated supply lead 26 in the two planes. Thus each one of a pair of electrical connectors 23 is anchored in each chamber by the tag 41 and is connected to each one of a pair of supply leads 26. The holder 17 is then removed from the jig (whence each insulated supply lead 26 is unsupported between the limbs 38) and either before or after its attachment to the casing front wall 11, a capless light bulb can be inserted into the rear of each chamber with its pinched portion 22 leading so that the connector rear ends 24 snap over the pinched portion 22 to thereby removably retain the capless light bulb in the chamber and simultaneously engage its terminals.

The twelve insulated supply leads 26 are gathered together within the casing and pass through an aperture in the casing bottom'wall 18 as a planar loom 42 with the insulation of each central conductor moulded integrally to that of its neighboring central conductor.

A reflector 43, preferably a curved white painted sheet, is located between the top and bottom walls of the casing to reflect light outwardly of the casing through the upper window portion 12.

In use, when one of the capless light bulbs is on, a beam of light is directed rearwardly of the light bulb through the pinched portion 22 (i.e., forwardly of the casing) and is visible in the lower portion 13 of the window through the associated aperture 14 as a narrow beam of blue or green light due to the color of the translucent strip covering that aperture. Simultaneously a beam of light from the same light bulb is directed forwardly of the light bulb through the bulbous portion 21 (i.e., rearwardly of the casing) and has a red or yellow color depending on that bulbous portions translucent coating. This red or yellow colored light beam is reflected by the reflector 43 so as to pass through the upper portion 12 of the window and be visible as a wide beam of red or yellow light extending substantially uniformly over the whole area of the upper portion of the window.

Since the reflector 43 will also reflect some red or yellow light through the remaining, unlit capless light bulbs, the blue or green strips 15 associated with those unlit light bulbs acting as a filter will stop this unwanted red or yellow light passing wholly through the window portion 13 and so prevent observer confusion as to which of the capless light bulbs is actually on. It will be appreciated that the red or yellow coatings on the bulbous portions of the unlit capless light bulbs will themselves act to some extent as filters to the unwanted reflected light from the light bulb that is actually on. For example, if a yellow-coated capless light bulb is on, most of the unwanted reflected yellow light can pass through the remaining unlit yellow-coated capless light bulbs and comparatively little can pass through the unlit red-coated capless light bulbs. Whether the light incident on the filter strips 15 is wanted white light emanating from the light bulbs glowing electric element or is unwanted reflected red or yellow light transmitted by or through the glass envelope of an unlit light bulb, only the wanted light is transmitted by the blue or green filter strip 15 associated with the light bulb that is actually on, the blue or green filter strips 15 associated with the remaining unlit light bulbs being substantially opaque to the unwanted red or yellow light incident thereon. It will be readily understood that the color of the strips 15 can in practice be chosen to be substantially opaque to both the light colors transmitted by or through the bulbous portions 21; that is to say the range of light wavelengths that the filtering strips 15 will transmit can exclude the ranges of light wavelengths emanating from the coated bulbous portions. Conveniently the blue or green filter strips 15 may be those sold by British Celanese Limited as CINEMOID '19 and CELASTOID 20 respectively, although the latter is preferred since the white light produced by the electric elements of the preferred capless light bulbs is somewhat lacking in wavelengths associated with the color blue" and the color green occupies a substantial area (or volume) of the color triangle (or space)see Physical Aspects of Colour" by Dr. P. J. Bouma (particularly HO. 1 l0 and the color plate photograph accompanying the book).

lt will be apparent that the above-described indicator apparatus provides little or no masking of the capless light bulbs 20, the distinction between light colors being provided by light-filtering means.

For example, if the indicator is connected in a motor vehicle, it may be considered imperative for the vehicle to be stopped immediately if any one of the following (category A) conditions are present:

Low Oil Pressure High Coolant Temperature Low Brake Fluid Low Clutch Fluid Low Power-Steering Fluid Light Failure Bonnet or Doors Open and to be stopped as soon as conveniently possible if any one of the following (category B) conditions are present:

Generator Malfunction (e.g., broken fan belt) Low Fuel Level Low Coolant Level Boot Open Brake Linings Worn Although the presence of a condition in categories A and B will be indicated to the observer by the smaller area of green or blue light visible over the aperture 14 in the lower portion 13 of the window, the degree of safety hazard may be conveniently differentiated between the two categories by coating the bulbous portions of the light bulbs corresponding to category A conditions with a red-colored translucent film, and by coating the bulbous portions of the light bulbs corresponding to category B conditions with a yellow-colored translucent film. Furthermore, if the indicator is to be additionally used for indicating generally nonhazardous (category C) conditions such as:

High Light Beam On Trafficator On Handbrake Operational Spot or Fog or Reversing Light On the bulbous portions 21 of the capless light bulbs corresponding to each of these category C conditions may be masked or shielded from the reflector 43 so that light from any one of these light bulbs is only visible as a small green or blue beam in the lower portion 13 of the window over the aperture 14 and is not visible over the substantially larger area of the upper portion 12 of the window.

It will be appreciated that legends corresponding to the conditions may be marked on the similarly colored translucent strips 15, or may be marked on the forwardly directed edge of the intermediate wall 16. As an alternative to adhesively securing the blue or green colored strips 15 in the apertures 14, they may be trapped between the holder 17 and the internal surface of casing front wall 11. In another alternative arrangement, the strips 15 are omitted and each of the apertures 14 is fitted with a removable button of blue or green colored translucent material to achieve the same result.

In an alternative construction the holder 17 for the capless light bulbs may be molded integrally with the front wall 11 and/or be formed of a clear transparent or a green or blue translucent plastics material, in which case the six chambers need not be apertured as at 14 at their front ends remote from the bulbous portions of the light bulbs.

It will be apparent that the number of conditions to be indicated by the indicator and of which category may be readily chosen by selecting the desired number oflight bulbs with the desired colored coating (for categories A and B) and inserting them into their chambers in the holder 17 from the front of the casing, the fact that the casing front wall 11 is removable facilitating this operation as well as the replacement of burntout light bulbs. To facilitate individual selection of the conditions desired to be indicated and in which hazard category (A or B), the legends may be provided on pressure-adhesive labels and the light bulbs may be chosen according to the color of the coating on their bulbous portions (for hazard category C the color may of course be black).

1n the embodiment of FIG. 6, the capless light bulb 101 comprises an electric element 102 and two supply leads or wires 103, 104 connected to the electric element and supported in electrically insulating relationship to one another by a bead 105. A sealed glass envelope 106 is formed with a bulbous portion 107 surrounding the element 102 and spaced therefrom, and with a pinched portion 108 surrounding leads 103 and 104 and sealed thereto. The supply leads 103, 104 project through the base 109 of the pinched portion one each side of a glass nipple 110 projecting rearwardly of the base 109, and each supply lead 103, 104 is formed into a loop 111 bent back, one loop on each side of the pinched portion, to constitute a light bulb terminal and to overlie a recess 112 formed in the pinched portion 108.

The holder 115 comprises an opaque body 116 moulded from a suitable plastics material such as a Type 6.6 Nylon (e.g., that sold in the United Kingdom under the Trademark MARANYL"), and two resilient, shaped, metal contact strips 117 and 118 one of which (117) being shown mounted in position in the body 116 and the other (118) being shown removed from the body 116.

The body 116 is formed with two parallel walls 121, 122 connected at one end edge by a transverse wall 120 and at their side edges by two outwardly bowed walls 123, 124. The internal surface of each wall 121, 122 is indented in the region of its intersection with the walls 123, 124 to form grooves extending longitudinally of the body that are to receive the side edges of the contact strips 117 and 118. The body is formed intermediate its ends with an outwardly directed surrounding flange 125 of generally rectangular outline. Each of the outwardly bowed walls 123, 124 is formed with a wide, parallelsided slot 126 extending from the other end 127 of the body 116 up to the flange 12S, and with a narrow, parallel-sided slot 128 extending from the wall 120 approximately three-quarters of the distance to flange 125 up to an end surface 129. The wall 120 is provided with a circular aperture 130 substantially centrally of the wall 120.

The two resilient, shaped, metal contact strips 117, 118 are identical and disposed to be each mirror images of the other and are retained in body 116 by the said grooves and by the slots 126 and 128. The details of only one of the contact strips (118) will now be described. The contact strip comprises a main limb 131, and two limbs 132 generally at right angles to limb 131 and facing one another joined to the edges 133 of limb 13] adjacent one end edge 134 thereof. Remote from the region where they are joined to limb 131, the limbs 132 are bowed inwardly towards one another as at 135. The limb 131 is pierced adjacent said region to form an outwardly projecting resilient tongue 136 (see contact strip 117) inclined towards the opposite end edge 137 of the limb 131. The limb 131 is bowed outwardly at 138 in the vicinity of end edge 137 which latter extends beyond the limb edges 133 to form a bowed transverse rib 139.

To assemble the light bulb holder, each of the two contact strips 117, 118 is inserted into the moulded body 116 from said other end 127 with the end edges 134 leading and the side edges 133 sliding in the longitudinally extending grooves in the body. During insertion the tongue 136 of each contact strip is deflected inwardly of the housing v by the inner surface of that part of wall 123 or 124 intermediate the slots 127, 128 and springs outwardly as soon as the extremity of the tongue passes the end surface 129 of slot 128..Thusthe contact strips are held located against substantial movement longitudinally of the housing by the engagement of the end edge 134 against the inner surface of wall 120 and the engagement of the extremity of inclined tongue 136 against the slot end surface 129; and are held located against substantial movement laterally of the housing by the side edges 133 engaging the longitudinally extending grooves in the internal surfaces of the body side walls 121 and 122 and the side edges of each rib 139 engaging the external periphery of slot 127 at its open end.

As the capless light bulb 101 is inserted into the said other end 127 of the holder with the pinched portion 108 leading, the bowed regions 135 of contact strip limbsv 1-32 splay outwardly over the terminals 111 and the pinched portion 108, and then snap into the recesses 112 so as to simultaneously hold the light bulb 101 in position in the holder 115 and make electrical contact with the light bulb terminals 111.

When electrical current is supplied to the capless light bulb 101 (for example through a flexible printed circuit, bared portions of which contact the bowed portions 138) the element 102 glows brightly and light from it passes through the bulbous portion 107 to be visible at said other end 127 of the holder 115 and also travels along the glass envelope 106 to emanate from the nipple 110 at the pinched portion 108 and be visible through the circular aperture 130 at said one end of the holder 1 15.

A similar result may be achieved by alternatively moulding the body 1 16 of a suitable plastics material that is translucent. In this case the wall may be absent (i.e., the aperture greatly enlarged) and/or the holder may be moulded integrally with a light transmission component for guiding or piping the light emanating from the pinched portion 108 to a desired region removed from the capless light bulb.

It will be appreciated that the external shape of body 116 may be such as to form a body module that may be directly coupled to one or more further modules of similar external shape. Alternatively, a plurality of capless light bulbs may be inserted into apertures or chambers formed in a single large plastics material moulding such that their bulbous portions project from one face of the large moulding, the opposite face of the large moulding being provided with holes therethrough in alignment with the capless light bulbs so that light emanating from any one capless light bulb will be visible from the one face through the glass bulbous portion and will be visible from the opposite face through the glass pinched portion and its associated hole in the opposite side face.

We claim:

1. in combination, an electrically energizable capless light bulb comprising a translucent bulbous portion, a translucent pinched portion and supply leads projecting from the pinched portion and bent back upon themselves over the exterior of said pinched portion to constitute terminals of the capless light bulb; a holder for said bulb comprising a body of electrically insulating material having a first region adjacent the bulbous portion of said capless light bulb and having a second region adjacent the pinched portion of said capless light bulb, contact strips in said holder in electrical contact with the terminals of the capless light bulb and having means mounting them in said body to retain the capless light bulb in said body, first means defining a first window disposed in the vicinity of said first region to permit light fromthe bulbous portion of said capless light bulb, when said bulb is electrically energized, to emanate from said first region and be visible as a first beam, and second means defining a second window disposed in the vicinity of said second region to permit light from the pinched portion of said capless light bulb, when said bulb is electrically energized, to emanate from said second region and be visible as a second beam distinct from saidfirst beam.

2. A holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body is a moulding of opaque plastics material and said second means defining said second window comprises an aperture.

3. A holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second means defining said second window is a wall moulded of translucent plastics material.

4. A holder as claimed in claim 3, wherein said wall is moulded integrally with said body.

5. A holder as claimed in claim 3, wherein said wall forms part ofa light transmission element. v

6. Indicator apparatus for visually indicating to an observer a condition in equipment to which the indicator apparatus is connected, comprising a casing having a front wall; a window in said front wall having small area portions; holder means retaining therein a plurality of electrically energizable capless light bulbs each of which comprises a bulbous portion, a pinched portion and supply leads projecting from the pinched portion and bent back upon themselves over the exterior of the pinched portion to constitute terminals of that capless light bulb; and means mounting said holder means within said casing to position each of said capless light bulbs rearwardly of an associated one of said small area portions, said holder means comprising for each said capless light bulb a body that is a moulding of opaque plastics material having a first region disposed remotely from said front wall adjacent the bulbous portion of that capless light bulb and having a second region disposed adjacent said front wall and adjacent the pinched portion of that capless light bulb, said body being apertured in the vicinity of both said first and second regions and in substantial alignment with one of said small area portions to permit light from any one of said capless light bulbs when electrically energized to emanate in one direction from said first region as a first beam, and to emanate in an opposite direction from said second region as a second distinct beam that is visible to an observer through said one of the small area portions.

7. Indicator apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said bulb to emanate from said first region inwardly of said casing v and be reflected by said reflecting means outwardly of said casing to be visible through said relatively larger area portion.

8. The structure of claim 1, wherein said body is a moulding of opaque plastics material and said first means defining a first window comprises an aperture.

9. An indicator apparatus for visually indicating to an observer a condition in equipment to which the indicator apparatus is connected, comprising: a casing having a front wall; a window in said front wall having a first portion and a plurality of distinct second portions which are each of smaller area than the area of said first portion; a plurality of electrically energizable light sources mounted within said casing adjacent said plurality of second window portions respectively, each of said light sources comprising a capless light bulb having a translucent bulbous portion and a translucent pinched portion from which supply leads extend outwardly and overlie the pinched portion to constitute terminals of the capless light bulb; and means for electrically connecting said terminals to the equipment for energization of a selected one of said light sources when a predetermined condition is present in the equipment whereby, upon energization, a part of the light emitted by any one light source will emanate from its bulbous portion and be visible as a first beam of light through said first window portion and a remaining part of the light emitted by said light source will emanate from its pinched portion and be visible as a second beam of light specific to the condition through the second window portion associated with that light source. 

1. In combination, an electrically energizable capless light bulb comprising a translucent bulbous portion, a translucent pinched portion and supply leads projecting from the pinched portion and bent back upon themselves over the exterior of said pinched portion to constitute terminals of the capless light bulb; a holder for said bulb comprising a body of electrically insulating material having a first region adjacent the bulbous portion of said capless light bulb and having a second region adjacent the pinched portion of said capless light bulb, contact strips in said holder in electrical contact with the terminals of the capless light bulb and having means mounting them in said body to retain the capless light bulb in said body, first means defining a first window disposed in the vicinity of said first region to permit light from the bulbous portion of said capless light bulb, when said bulb is electrically energized, to emanate from said first region and be visible as a first beam, and second means defining a second window disposed in the vicinity of said second region to permit light from the pinched portion of said capless light bulb, when said bulb is electrically energized, to emanate from said second region and be visible as a second beam distinct from said first beam.
 2. A holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body is a moulding of opaque plastics material and said second means defining said second window comprises an aperture.
 3. A holder as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second means defining said second window is a wall moulded of translucent plastics material.
 4. A holder as claimed in claim 3, wherein said wall is moulded integrally with said body.
 5. A holder as claimed in claim 3, wherein said wall forms part of a light transmission element.
 6. Indicator apparatus for visually indicating to an observer a condition in equipment to which the indicator apparatus is connected, comprising a casing having a front wall; a window in said front wall having small area portions; holder means retaining therein a plurality of electrically energizable capless light bulbs each of which comprises a bulbous portion, a pinched portion and supply leads projecting from the pinched portion and bent back upon themselves over the exterior of the pinched portion to constitute terminals of that capless light bulb; and means mounting said holder means within said casing to position each of said capless light bulbs rearwardly of an associated one of said small area portions, said holder means comprising for each said capless light bulb a body That is a moulding of opaque plastics material having a first region disposed remotely from said front wall adjacent the bulbous portion of that capless light bulb and having a second region disposed adjacent said front wall and adjacent the pinched portion of that capless light bulb, said body being apertured in the vicinity of both said first and second regions and in substantial alignment with one of said small area portions to permit light from any one of said capless light bulbs when electrically energized to emanate in one direction from said first region as a first beam, and to emanate in an opposite direction from said second region as a second distinct beam that is visible to an observer through said one of the small area portions.
 7. Indicator apparatus according to claim 6, wherein said casing contains reflecting means generally facing said front wall and said window has a relatively larger area portion to permit light from said one electrically energized capless light bulb to emanate from said first region inwardly of said casing and be reflected by said reflecting means outwardly of said casing to be visible through said relatively larger area portion.
 8. The structure of claim 1, wherein said body is a moulding of opaque plastics material and said first means defining a first window comprises an aperture.
 9. An indicator apparatus for visually indicating to an observer a condition in equipment to which the indicator apparatus is connected, comprising: a casing having a front wall; a window in said front wall having a first portion and a plurality of distinct second portions which are each of smaller area than the area of said first portion; a plurality of electrically energizable light sources mounted within said casing adjacent said plurality of second window portions respectively, each of said light sources comprising a capless light bulb having a translucent bulbous portion and a translucent pinched portion from which supply leads extend outwardly and overlie the pinched portion to constitute terminals of the capless light bulb; and means for electrically connecting said terminals to the equipment for energization of a selected one of said light sources when a predetermined condition is present in the equipment whereby, upon energization, a part of the light emitted by any one light source will emanate from its bulbous portion and be visible as a first beam of light through said first window portion and a remaining part of the light emitted by said light source will emanate from its pinched portion and be visible as a second beam of light specific to the condition through the second window portion associated with that light source. 